Malaysia: Tourism not affected by missing MAS flight

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 had not affected the tourism industry, said the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta).

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370 had not affected the tourism industry, said the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta).

Its president, Hamzah Rahmat, who said that flying was still the safest mode of transportation, said that the response to the Matta Fair was proof that people were still looking forward to travel.

โ€œWithin the first two hours of the fairโ€™s first day, we have recorded over 10,000 visitors which is an extraordinary feat,โ€ he said, adding that Matta eyes RM150 million in revenue.

The increase in sales and the number of visitors in the concluded Johor and Kuching Matta Fairs were encouraging, Hamzah said, and he hoped that he was expecting the same for the three-day fair held in Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

โ€œAlthough MAS did not participate this time, this is not related to the missing MH370 incident.โ€

Meanwhile, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz in his speech said Tourism Malaysia had received overwhelming response in March 2013โ€™s Matta Fair, with 19,067 packages being sold, totaling to RM3.16 million.

โ€œFor the March 2014 Matta Fair, Tourism Malaysia targets to sell 20,020 packages worth RM3.32 million,โ€ he added.

The fair which began today, would end on Sunday with 475 local and international exhibitors taking up 1058 booths.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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